Honestly, military discounts are nice and all, but if you're labeled a "high-risk" driver (like yours truly), those perks barely make a dent. I've tried every trick—secure garages, safer neighborhoods, even sweet-talking the agent—and still pay through the nose. Sure, being proactive helps, but at the end of the day, insurers have their own weird math. Military or not, if you've got tickets or claims on your record... good luck getting a break.
I've always wondered how much those defensive driving courses actually help. A buddy of mine swears by them—claims it knocked a decent chunk off his premium, even with a couple speeding tickets on his record. But then again, maybe that's just his insurer being generous. Has anyone here tried one of those courses after getting labeled high-risk? Curious if it's worth the hassle or just another insurance myth...
"Has anyone here tried one of those courses after getting labeled high-risk? Curious if it's worth the hassle or just another insurance myth..."
I was skeptical about defensive driving courses too, especially since insurance companies love to hype stuff up. But honestly, after my wife got a speeding ticket last year, we decided to give it a shot—figured it couldn't hurt, right? Turns out, it was pretty painless, just a few hours online at our own pace. We didn't see a huge drop, but it did shave off enough from our premium to make it worthwhile. Definitely wasn't life-changing savings, but hey, every little bit helps when you're budgeting for family expenses.
From what I've seen, the discounts can vary quite a bit depending on your insurer and your driving record. If your buddy saw a decent chunk come off, maybe his insurer is one of the more generous ones or he had some other factors helping him out. Either way, I'd say it's worth giving it a shot—worst case scenario, you brush up on some defensive driving tips and maybe save a few bucks along the way.
Yeah, I was pretty skeptical too—insurance companies aren't exactly known for handing out freebies. But like you said:
"every little bit helps when you're budgeting for family expenses."
Took the course myself after a minor fender bender, and while the savings weren't huge, it did soften the blow a bit...worth a shot I'd say.
I was skeptical at first too, but after my brother-in-law (who's active duty) mentioned his discount, I decided to look into it myself. Turns out, even as a veteran, I qualified for a small discount—nothing huge, but it definitely helped ease some of the monthly budgeting stress. Had to provide some paperwork and proof of service, but the process wasn't too complicated...worth checking out if you're trying to trim expenses wherever possible.
